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How Does Electronic Waste Affect the Environment

What are causes of e waste? Electronics for consumers are being treated like disposable items more and more every day. One major factor causing effects of electronic waste pollution trend is that companies are endlessly marketing new technologies to us, which effectively render recent products as obsolete. In 1999 the average lifespan of a United States computer was six to four years. By 2005 the lifespan had shrunk down to less than two years. In 2016, that number shrunk even further with the introduction of more and more devices. Compounding the problem is the fact that we are disposing of electronic waste (e waste) improperly. What are the effects of e-waste on the environment?

Improper Electronic Waste Disposal Leads to Negative Effects of E-waste on Environment

How can e waste affect the environment? Computers contain toxic materials like zinc, nickel, lead, barium and chromium, which is why it's critical to do proper computer recycling. Each of these metals occur in concentrations that are higher than the federally regulated levels. Our growing stream of e-waste is a threat to our environment. In 2005 an estimated 5.3 billion pounds of electronic waste was generated (EPA, 2005). Of this, only 9% was recycled (Yadong et al., 2006). When we retire our computers we have four options: to recycle it, donate it, return it to the manufacturer or throw it in the trash. Most commonly, we throw it away.

Effects of E-waste on Environment Through Landfills

When we throw out our computers, they wind up in landfills, causing the possibility of toxic metal leaching into the groundwater. Toxic metals in e-waste leach into our supply of resources, threatening their integrity. When e-waste is warmed up, toxic chemicals are released in to the air, damaging the atmosphere. E-waste management is a critical consideration for future generations as proper electronic recycling is becoming harder to find.

Effects of E-waste on Environments in Third World Countries

E-waste adversely affects our developing nations. Instead of responsibly recycling our electronic devices, America sends our e-waste to these countries. The e-waste piles up in the landfills, which cause harm to the environment in various ways. Toxins from the metals in electronics are released in to the atmosphere, and what is worse, when e-waste disposal is not subsidized, the pollutants from our electronic waste can end up in toys for our children that are sent back to us. Instead of exporting e-waste, or letting it rot in landfills, we can help our environment by returning our electrical products to stores and manufacturers, sending them to responsible recycling centers, selling them to people that will find them useful, or donating them to stores such as Goodwill donation center.

Poor E-Waste Management Effects Data Security Through Improper Data Destruction

Proper recycling and disposal of electronics is not only important for the environment but it also has a big impact on data security as well. When e-waste is disposed of improperly and without the use of a company that specializes in proper data destruction, there is a severe risk of identity theft, data breaches and massive liability for the companies involved. Prior to disposing of IT Equipment improperly, always consider all aspects, including data security and liability in addition to the environment.

E-waste is not a problem that is going away any time soon. In fact it is only going to get worse. By 2017, the volume of our thrown away e-products throughout the world is expected to rise by 33 percent from 2012, and we can expect the weight of this garbage to equal eight of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. The amount of e-waste that we produce, including computers, DVD players, cellphones and global positioning products, could rise by a whopping 500% over the next decade in countries such as India. It is crucial to know the effects of e-waste on the environment, and what we can do to stop it.

SEE ALL GREEN POPULAR RECYCLING SERVICES:
Source: it.umich.edu

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Effects of E-Waste On Our Environment | AG Electronics Recycling

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What are causes of e waste? Electronics for consumers are being treated like disposable items more and more every day. One major factor causing effects of electronic waste pollution trend is that companies are endlessly marketing new technologies to us, which effectively render recent products as obsolete.

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E-waste, or electronic waste, is waste from all sorts of electronics ranging from computers and mobile phones, to household electronics such as food processors, pressure, cookers etc.

The effects of improper disposal of this E-waste on the environment are little known; these impacts nonetheless pose very real threats and dangers to the global environment at large.

Threats posed by E-waste to the environment.

Improper disposal of these electronic wastes affect the soil, air, and water components of the environment.
Effects on air
One of the most common effect of E-waste on air is through air pollution. For example, a British documentary about Lagos and its inhabitants, called Welcome to Lagos, shows a number of landfill scavengers who go through numerous landfills in Lagos looking for improperly disposedelectronics which includes wires, blenders, etc., to make some income from the recycling of these wastes. These men were shown to burn wires to get the copper (a very valuable commodity) in them by open air burning which can release hydrocarbons into the air.
Effects on water
When electronics containing heavy metals such as lead, barium, mercury, lithium (found in mobile phone and computer batteries), etc., are improperly disposed, these heavy metals leach through the soil to reach groundwater channels which eventually run to the surface as streams or small ponds of water. Local communities often depend on these bodies of water and the groundwater. Apart from these chemicals resulting in the death of some of the plants and animals that exist in the water, intake of the contaminated water by humans and land animals results in lead poisoning. Some of these heavy metals are also carcinogenic.
Effects on soil
In this way, toxic heavy metals and chemicals from e-waste enter the "soil-crop-food pathway," one of the most significant routes for heavy metals' exposure to humans. These chemicals are not biodegradable-they persist in the environment for long periods of time, increasing the risk of exposure.

These dangers posed by improper disposal on the environment ultimately have impacts on human beings -human cost; the health effects of these toxins on humans include birth defects (irreversible), brain, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal system damage. Theyalso significantly affect the nervous and reproductive systems of the human body. When computer monitors and other electronics are burned, they create cancer-producing dioxins which are released into the air we breathe. If electronics are thrown in landfills, these toxins may leach into groundwater and affect local resources. Thus improper disposal of e-waste not only has effects on the environment, it indirectly and ultimately poses grave dangers to humans and livestock.

So, now that we have an idea of what impact improper disposal of E-waste has on the environment, how do we dispose these E-waste properly to help preserve the environment?
The answer is there are a number of ways to do this, they include:
1. Checking with the local government on laws and regulations guiding ethical and safe disposal of these waste. As a result ofthe increasing threat that e-waste poses to the environment, some communities have begun to undergo civic programs in which inhabitants of such communities take unwanted electronics to designated drop-off locations (this takes after the idea used in plastic bottle collections to tackle pollution caused by plastic bottles).

2. With the donation of electronics, some of the e-waste disposed can actually be reused, and by doing this, one can reduce pollution caused by e-waste and also give access to people who would not otherwise have access to these devices.

3. With the use of a certified E-waste recycler, one can find an ethical and safe recycler certified through the Basel Action Network (BAN), a non-profit organization. Regionally, in Africa E-Terra, a Nigerian company, specializes in recycling, and safe and ethical destruction of these electronics.

With all the above said, we all can be responsible citizens by being mindful of the dangers posed by E-waste to the environment and do as much as we can to protect our environment, because ultimately e-waste does not just affect the environment, it ultimately affects us humans too/ as well.

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Impacts of E-Waste on the environment - E-Terra Technologies Limited

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Want create site? Find Free WordPress Themes and plugins.Impacts of E-waste on the environment E-waste, or electronic waste, is waste from all sorts of electronics ranging from computers and mobile phones, to household electronics such as food processors, pressure, cookers etc. The effects of improper disposal of this E-waste on the environment are little known; ...

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Alex Lin was a boy who was just reading the newspaper one day. He read an article about something called e-waste. He learned that it is the waste generated as people upgrade electronic devices. When people are done with things like computers, phones, mp3 players, etc. and throw them away, that's e-waste. He also learned that e-waste is dangerous to the environment. Yet this was not something that was not widely known. Alex decided to do something about it.

To help stop e-waste, Alex got help from his community service group, the Westerly Innovations Network (WIN). WIN spread the message about e-waste and gave people a chance to recycling and refurbish it instead. Before long, Alex and WIN were saving thousands of pounds of e-waste from being thrown away! They helped recycle e-waste and refurbish computers to donate to those in need in America and in other countries. Alex and WIN are helping save the environment, one old computer at a time! This video tells all about Alex's great efforts.

Additional Resources:

Here is an article about Alex and his efforts.

Here is an interview with Alex.

Click here for more InspireMyKids stories about the environment.

Find great books in our store, like Acting for Nature, about how children can help the environment.

This video is about recycling e-waste.

Topics for Discussion:

Think about all the electronics families have. How often do they get replaced? Where do the electronics go after the family is done with them?

One of Alex's inspirations is the quote "Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something." Are there any "brick walls" in your life that you can get past if you just work harder on them?

Take Action:

Talk to family and friends about the danger of e-waste and tell them to recycle their old electronics!

Check out the Environmental Protection Agency website for information about how you can help recycle e-waste!

Teacher Features:

Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.

Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.

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Alex Lin - Turning E-Waste Into E-Treasure - InspireMyKids

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Alex Lin was a boy who was just reading the newspaper one day. He read an article about something called e-waste. He learned that it is the waste generated as people upgrade electronic devices. When people are done with things like computers, phones, mp3 players, etc. and throw them away, that's e-waste.

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Last updated on By Abigail Smith

There are mountains of e-waste in China. Some of it is there to be recycled, but most is waiting to be shipped off to e-waste landfills in Africa or other parts of Asia.

The term electronic waste refers to any electronic device that is no longer wanted or has become obsolete. Electronics classified as e-waste can either be in perfect working condition or be unusable.

Think about how many people ditch their old mobile phones for the newer model or how frequently they discard an old TV for a sleeker, more powerful one. Owing to rapidly changing technology, the rise of disposable income, and easy availability of electronic products, large amounts of e-waste are produced every year.

Do Something points out that a whopping 20 to 50 million metric tons of e-waste are disposed every year. Unfortunately, only about 12.5% of it is recycled. Even more unfortunate is the fact that most of these consumer electronics can be reused or are in perfect working condition. Most devices such as cell phones, laptops, memory sticks, TVs, tablets and batteries end up in landfills and contribute to air and water pollution.

Minimizing electronic waste is one of the best ways to keep our environment safe. The good news is that it's fairly easy to reduce your family's e-waste.

Donate or Sell Working Electronics

The simplest way to efficiently manage e-waste is to simply sell your electronics if it's in good working condition. Go on eBay or Craigslist to sell these items and give it to someone who really needs it. Otherwise, there are recycling websites and comparison websites that will give you a price for your old gadgets and allow you to send them off, to be repurposed or recycled effectively.

Use Your Old Mobile Phone as a GPS Device

Most people swap their old phones for a new one every year. Instead of letting it sit in the desk drawer, or worse, throwing it in the trash, consider using it for some other purpose. You can keep it in your car and use it as a GPS device or music player. Old phones can be converted into universal remote controls or be used to monitor security cameras.

Recycle via a Retailer

Major retailers and brands have in-store, online and drop-off site recycling options. They recycle computers, mobile phones, and TVs. In fact, some will allow you to trade your obsolete equipment for gift cards. Before purchasing electronics, ask the store if they have a buyback program. Most large retailers give that option to customers.

Check E-Cycling Centers in Your State

One way to encourage e-waste management in your household is by trying to give all your electronics that can't be donated or resold to free sites. They have local groups that are moderated by local volunteers. Membership is free. Alternatively, you can collect all your e-waste once a month and give them away at an e-cycling center in your state ( http://www.ecyclingcentral.com/).

Organize Your Electronics

Given a number of electronics that we stash away in drawers and cupboards, it's no wonder that we forget what items we have in our house. Instead of buying new devices, organize your existing ones to see if you really need to buy them. For example, you may be in need of a memory stick but after organizing all your electronics, you may discover that you already have an unused one. Furthermore, try to share gadgets, cords, and connectors with family members rather than buy the same device twice.

Know Your State's Laws About Battery Disposal

Rechargeable batteries contain hazardous waste which is why some states have made it illegal to throw them away in the trash. The good news is that these types of batteries contain lead, plastic, and metal which can be easily recycled.

Consume Less

It's so easy to purchase a sleek TV, the latest mobile phone or a brand-new laptop. Most people don't even stop to think if they really need them. Before buying anything, ask yourself whether you really need it. If you're buying a new phone even though your old one is in good working condition, why not simply upgrade the software? You can repair your old laptop instead of buying a new one. Being a sensible consumer will go a long way in productively managing your household's e-waste.

Store Your Data Online

Why use a memory stick or device when you can now easily store significant amounts of data on the Internet? There are many different types of clouds storage available online such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and IDrive. Some of them will provide a free 30-day trial so you can see what will work best for you.

Buy Energy Star Rated Appliances

The Environmental Protection Agency offers an Energy Star Program that gives rebates when you recycle old appliances and buy new Energy Star models. Energy Star appliances are not only environment-friendly but consume less electricity thereby saving money on your electric bill. Next time you purchase a washing machine, refrigerator, microwave or air conditioner, opt for
Energy Star models.

Educate Yourself on the Materials Used in Electronics

Last but certainly not the least, research about the raw materials being used to manufacture your mobile phone, dishwasher or laptop. Some raw materials are easy to recycle while others aren't. Gadgets also contain a number of toxic materials. The more you educate yourself, the better you'll be able to purchase items that will not harm the environment in the long term.

Moreover, remember to wipe out all the memory on the device and factory reset your mobile before selling, donating or giving it away. Being more mindful of the electronics we consume and the role we can play in reducing e-waste can go a long way in helping the planet.

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Last updated on By Abigail Smith There are mountains of e-waste in China. Some of it is there to be recycled, but most is waiting to be shipped off to e-waste landfills in Africa or other parts of Asia. The term electronic waste refers to any electronic device that is no longer wanted or has become obsolete.

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Minimizing E-waste is Important:

The manufacturing of these devices and the use of rare materials that go into their production represent a huge source of embodied energy. Minimizing e-waste helps to conserve resources and reduces the amount of energy we take from the earth.

Reusing the precious metals and plastics in old cell phones alone instead of making or mining more of them would save as much energy as flipping off the power to 24,000 US homes for an entire year. The typical American household has 24 electronic devices and in 2009 the EPA estimated that there are 2.37 million tons worth of electronics ready to be disposed of. This would fill almost five football stadiums!

Re-evaluate. Do you really need that extra gadget? Try finding one device with multiple functions.

Extend the life of your electronics. Buy a case, keep your device clean, and avoid overcharging the battery.

Buy environmentally friendly electronics. Look for products labeled Energy Star or certified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).

Donate used electronics to social programs-and help victims of domestic violence, children safety initiatives, environmental causes, and more. Ask your student REP for a postage paid mailer for your cell phone or ink cartridge. For each item received, the World Wildlife Fund will receive one dollar.

Reuse large electronics. Post to Harvard's Reuse List

Recycle electronics and batteries in e-waste recycling bins located around campus. Large electronics can go in the larger bins found in your building.

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The manufacturing of these devices and the use of rare materials that go into their production represent a huge source of embodied energy. Minimizing e-waste helps to conserve resources and reduces the amount of energy we take from the earth.

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Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet. They help people thrive and survive by, for example, purifying water and air and providing people with jobs; some 13.2 million people across the world have a job in the forest sector and another 41 million have a job that is related to the sector. Many animals also rely on forests. Eighty percent of the world's land-based species, such as elephants and rhinos, live in forests. Forests also play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink-soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate patterns.

But forests around the world are under threat, jeopardizing these benefits. The threats manifest themselves in the form of deforestation and forest degradation. The main cause of deforestation is agriculture (poorly planned infrastructure is emerging as a big threat too) and the main cause of forest degradation is illegal logging. We're losing 18.7 million acres of forests annually, equivalent to 27 soccer fields every minute.

Deforestation is a particular concern in tropical rain forests because these forests are home to much of the world's biodiversity. For example, in the Amazon around 17% of the forest has been lost in the last 50 years, mostly due to forest conversion for cattle ranching. Deforestation in this region is particularly rampant near more populated areas, roads and rivers, but even remote areas have been encroached upon when valuable mahogany, gold, and oil are discovered.

WWF has been working to protect forests for more than 50 years. WWF works with governments, companies, communities and other stakeholders to promote certification for responsible forest management practices, combat illegal logging, reform trade policies, protect forested areas, and more.

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Deforestation and Forest Degradation | Threats | WWF

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Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet. They help people thrive and survive by, for example, purifying water and air and providing people with jobs; some 13.2 million people across the world have a job in the forest sector and another 41 million have a job that is related to the sector.

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While Her Peers Stand Idle, This Teen Activist Fights For The Earth, by Lorraine Chow

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Kelsey Juliana is proof that you're never too young or too busy to save the planet. Since the tender age of 15, when most of her peers were busy with soccer practice and reading the Hunger Games, Kelsey has been delving into legal briefs as a co-plaintiff for Oregon TRUST (a nonprofit fighting climate change for future generations), which is suing the state of Oregon "to take a more aggressive stance against the carbon emissions warming the earth and destroying the environment."

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Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at all stages of life, from eggs to hatchlings to juveniles to adults. Pollutants include things like toxic metals, pcb's, petroleum products, and agricultural and industrial runoff of contaminants such as fertilizers, chemicals, nutrients, and untreated waste. Pollutants may cause immediate harm to sea turtles through direct contact or can build up in tissues over time and lead to immunosuppression resulting in disease and death.

Degradation of sea turtle habitat from pollution also poses a threat and can occur over large areas. Sea turtle habitat overlaps with areas most likely to be affected by offshore oil exploration and production. Petroleum pollution occurs from intentional discharge from vessels, vessel groundings, offshore oil exploration and production, transport of oil products, spills, and runoff of oil from land based sources.

Oil from spills far offshore concentrate along convergence zones (where currents meet) which is are important areas for young turtle development. Oil from spills offshore also washes up on beaches where it degrades nesting habitat, and can impact nests, nesting females, and hatchlings making their way to the water.

Sea turtles are also affected by ingesting food contaminated by oil or tar balls. Tar balls form when crude oil floating in the water degrades. A large percentage of dead hatchlings whose stomach contents have been examined have ingested tar balls.

Fibropapillomas

This disease is a threat to sea turtle populations worldwide. Also known as "FP", this disease causes cauliflower-shaped tumors on external soft parts and internal organs of a sea turtle. The exact cause of FP is still unknown, however, researchers believe there is a link to ocean pollution. External FP tumors can create drag and slow sea turtles down making them more vulnerable to predation and collisions with boats.

Tumors around the eyes can obscure vision and eventually cause blindness, and tumors around the mouth can impair breathing and feeding. In some areas, many stranded and dead turtles have FP tumors. Research is still being done to determine the exact cause and transmission of this disease.

FP was first seen in the 1930's in green turtles in the Florida Keys. In Hawaii, FP was not seen until the late 50's. It was first only observed in isolated areas but now occurs worldwide and in other species including loggerheads, Kemp's and olive ridleys, and flatbacks. Over 50% of green turtles found in Florida's Indian River are afflicted.

ocean pollution & sea turtles

Toxic metals may concentrate in the liver and kidneys of sea turtles. Toxins like mercury also pose a threat to human health.

Chronic exposure to pollutants makes sea turtles susceptible to disease and death. Chronically ill turtles are also more vulnerable to predation and collisions with boats.

PCB's, or polychlorinated biphenyl's, despite being banned from production in the U.S. in 1979, are still found in the environment, and in materials produced prior to the ban. Organisms that ingest these chemicals may suffer from depressed immune systems, illness, disease, and impaired reproduction. Researchers have found PCB's in sea turtle eggs.

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Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at all stages of life, from eggs to hatchlings to juveniles to adults. Pollutants include things like toxic metals, pcb's, petroleum products, and agricultural and industrial runoff of contaminants such as fertilizers, chemicals, nutrients, and untreated waste.

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The Clock Is Ticking: Youth and Environmental Activism

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The Clock Is Ticking: Youth and Environmental Activism

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Young people have a unique relationship with the environment: They are often the first affected when something goes wrong, yet the least represented when decisions are made.

They, more than any other generation, have been raised to feel a responsibility toward the environment. And that's important because they will be the first generation in charge of correcting the problems caused by the widespread pollution of the atmosphere and rampant misappropriation of natural resources.

Youth today feel the "clock is ticking in terms of the amount of time we have to deal with the major issues like clean air, clean water and global warming," says Sharon Smith, program director of Brower New Leaders at the Earth Island Institute, a support group for youth environmental campaigns and initiatives.
Growth in activism
Smith has seen firsthand the growth in environmental activism. "I graduated from college in 1999, and right in my first year out of college I went to an eco conference, which at that time was held in the Northeast. It was one of the largest environmental youth conferences held to date, and it had about a thousand people."

Contrast that with a 2009 conference that drew 12,000 young people from all 50 states, she said. "You can really see the growth of the environmental movement even over the past decade by looking at these conferences and the trainings designed and led and initiated by young people."

Canon Envirothon has seen similar growth in youth activism. A nonprofit specializing in the delivery of environmental education for high school students, the program has grown from three states in 1988 to 54 states and provinces in North America today.

Young people are "looking for avenues where they can make a difference and become knowledgeable, and then they can take and share that knowledge and experience," said Clay Burns, executive director of Canon Envirothon in Mississippi. They need to be "willing and prepared to work toward achieving and maintaining a balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment."
Raising new leaders
But an increase in youth activism is not enough to stave off environmental peril - we need new ideas and new leaders, according to Eban Goodstein, economics professor at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and co-director of the 2009 National Teach-In on Global Warming, a nationwide network of teachers at all educational levels that, on Feb. 5, engaged more than a million Americans in a "solutions-driven dialogue."

Eban says the U.S. must act aggressively in the next year or so to reduce global- warming pollution and invest in clean energy technologies or "you guys are going to be looking at a very different world in 2050," when the world will be 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher.

"To put that number in perspective, during the last Ice Age, it was only nine degrees Fahrenheit colder than it is on average today," he explained.

Goodstein says youth need to move beyond being the front lines of environmental activism to being the visionaries. Both the Brower New Leaders and Canon Envirothon have devoted more than two decades training them to do just that.

Earth Island Initiative was founded in 1982 by renowned environmentalist David Brower to support young people who have new strategies for saving the earth. In 2000, the organization started the Brower Youth Awards, which honor six youth ages 13 to 23 each year for their leadership and activism with a gala ceremony, campout and $3,000 prize.

"We felt like young people so often are sort of the workhorses of these campaigns and aren't always recognized, aren't always supported at a critical time in the development of their careers, in the development of their activism," Smith said.

The Canon Envirothon also honors young environmentalists in a yearly competition that engages more than 500,000 high school students throughout North America. The Envirothon works in partnership with local conservation districts, forestry associations, educators and natural resource agencies to organize and conduct competitions on the local, regional, and state and/or provincial level. This year's hands-on problem-solving competition is Aug. 2-6 at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where local finalists will compete for recognition, scholarships, and prizes.
Issues addressed
While recycling clubs abound at all age levels, more and more youth are expanding their efforts in other directions. In Massachusetts, young people involved in Gardening in the Community promote organic gardening and bicycle use. In Florida, a young man developed an interactive curriculum to educate youth about the plight of loggerhead turtles. In California, youth helped pass a bill requiring cosmetic companies to alert the Department of Health if their products contain carcinogens.

These are just a few examples. Youth across the country are cleaning up local wetlands, shutting down toxic waste sites, promoting clean energy and combating landfills. They have educated their peers, parents and the public on carbon emissions, reusable goods and conservation of resources.

Brower New Leaders have dealt with many such issues, and the Earth Island Institute currently oversees 60 projects, ranging from "Project Coyote" to the "Sacred Land Film Project," in 26 countries worldwide.

Students involved in Canon Envirothon pay special attention to natural resources, specifically those related to soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry and wildlife.

"Conservation is the big thing that we're involved in," Burns said, explaining that such work is more grassroots, and thus a more viable venue for youth activism.

And while most youth activism is local, many are entering the political realm to effect long-lasting change.

"There's a recognition that this is a time when we need major action from government if we're going to sort of lay the foundation and give you guys the tools that you're going to need to transform the world," Goodstein said.
New worldview coming?
Goodstein envisions a day soon when people automatically think about the environmental impact of their actions before they act. "We'll move on to a phase where we just sort of naturally mimic nature and create things that are in harmony with nature and don't produce waste and pollution."

Smith shares his optimism because she's seen the changes enacted by the youth involved in her program. "Just this year we were looking at the past 10 years of awardees, and at least 87 percent of our award recipients are still in leadership roles in the environmental movement. So it's a great sign that these young folks were committed when they applied to do this work and that hopefully the support we provided ensured they could stay committed and rise as leaders," she said.

The presidency of Barack Obama gives more reasons for hope. "It's rejuvenated the environmental movement in a number of ways," Smith said. "People have been really hitting their heads against the wall for eight years trying to push forward environmental initiatives."
Click here to read these Y-Press profiles:
Grind for the Green, San Francisco, CA
Urban Roots, East Austin, TX
West Oakland Urban Students Uprising against Pollution, Oakland, CA
Click here to read how students at two high schools are recycling and promoting environmentalism.

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Researchers from the United Negro College Fund went to West Virginia last year and asked 62 high school dropouts in the federal Job Corps program a simple, open-ended question. ¨What was it about school,¨ they wanted to know, ¨that caused you to quit?¨

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Like a lot of boys, Clay McMullen always enjoyed fishing and rock-climbing around his home in Geauga County's Chester Township.

But starting about a half-dozen years ago, at age 11, Clay began worrying about the environment so much that he started a crusade to make a difference.

Since then, Clay, now 17, has won nearly 50 grants totaling $180,000 from organizations ranging from Walt Disney Co. to the Environmental Protection Agency to Sea World.

Along the way, the West Geauga High School senior also helped get a state law passed last year that essentially guarantees that Ohio elementary students will be taught about wetlands when they learn about the state symbols.

More heroes

Every year The Plain Dealer highlights people in Greater Cleveland who saw a need and stepped up to answer it -- sometimes risking injury to save lives, sometimes risking time and effort to make a change in the community. Here are the heroes of the past three years and a link to all of this year's stories.

Clay'sprojects include building nesting landings for osprey (an endangered bird), starting nature clubs for students in the West Geauga district's two elementary schools, planting vegetable gardens and courtyards at his middle school and high school, and getting emission-control devices installed on nearly two dozen buses in the school district.

He estimates that he has spent 2,000 hours on environmental causes since the seventh grade.

"It's worth it. I want these natural resources to be preserved," he said. "I want my kids to have the same natural resources that I had. I want my grandkids to have them, too.

"Whatever amount of work I have to do, it's completely worth it," he said.

Clay's mom, Irene, recalls that hebegged to go on a bird-watching excursion when he was in the fifth grade.

"It was so funny. Everyone else was retired," she said, "but Clay was fascinated." Among the topics: The endangered osprey -- a fish-eating bird with a 6-foot wingspan.

The grant mania set in a year later in 2005, after he learned that 90 percent of Ohio's wetlands have been destroyed in the last 100 years. Ospreys rely on wetlands.

Clay got the idea to build osprey nesting platforms, which sit on 50-foot-high poles in wetland areas, and his mom took him to Home Depot. Clay asked the manager if he could help out with the materials, which would have cost about $150. The manager told Clay that if he wrote a letter explaining the project, Home Depot would donate the materials. The rest is history.

Mike Sustin, an environmental-science teacher at West Geauga High School, recalled that Clay next started researching online where he could get grants to build more nesting platforms, and found an application from Disney.

Clay was awarded $1,000 from Disney to build the platforms.

"The projects just got bigger after that," Irene McMullen said. "People began to call him. So it just kind of snowballed."

Clay's biggest grant was a $64,000 prize from the EPA to get diesel multistage filters installed on the schooldistrict's buses. "The amount of particulate from those buses is pretty alarming," he said.

He also got the school board to adopt a "West G is Idle Free" policy that prohibits idling in the parking lot for more than 30 seconds.

What about parents waiting to pick up their kids on cold days? Clay helped secure a grant last year to buy green micro-fleece blankets to distribute to people waiting in cold cars.

Sustin considers Clay's slickest achievement to be the five-year quest he undertook with a few of his environmentally minded friends to ensure that students statewide would learn about and appreciate wetlands.

They persuaded the Ohio legislatureto name the spotted salamander, which lives in wetlands, as the state's official amphibian -- guaranteeing that wetlands are part of every fourth-grade science class.

"That was a great strategy," Sustin said. "As a 20-year educator, I don't know that I could have come up with that idea."

While a kid who's extremely science-minded and has a grade point average above 4.0 could be considered a little nerdy, Clay is one of the most popular students, said Principal David Toth.

As he prepares to leave for college next year, Clay is training younger students to continue his environmental work.

"I think we can provide an example to show that you can be active and try to contribute and make a difference," he said.

Plain Dealer news researcher Jo Ellen Corrigan contributed to this story. To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tmurray@plaind.com, 216-999-6315

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Clay McMullen, teen passionate about saving the environment: Community Heroes 2011 (video)

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Like a lot of boys, Clay McMullen always enjoyed fishing and rock-climbing around his home in Geauga County's Chester Township. But starting about a half-dozen years ago, at age 11, Clay began worrying about the environment so much that he started a crusade to make a difference.

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Newsela: Teen activist killed fighting a silver mine to save land

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Newsela: Teen activist killed fighting a silver mine to save land

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Video: Santa Monica Teens Saving the Environment

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Video: Santa Monica Teens Saving the Environment

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Kelsey Juliana is proof that you're never too young or too busy to save the planet.
The 18-year-old environmentalist activist is a co-plaintiff for the Oregon TRUST (a nonprofit fighting climate change for future generations), who is suing the state of Oregon "to take a more aggressive stance against the carbon emissions warming the earth and destroying the environment." It's a cause she's been fighting for since the tender age of 15.
The impressive teen - who is also walking across America to bring awareness to global warming - recently sat down with journalist Bill Moyers on his show. The host marveled that when most kids her age are reading "The Hunger Games," this young lady is delving into legal briefs about public doctrine.
During a poignant portion of the interview at the 4:30 mark below, Moyers asks, "Do some of your friends in high school think you're weird [for your activism]?"
Juliana responds, "No. They seem to all support me but not join me, which is almost worse than not supporting me, you know, because they get it. And they don't do anything."
MORE: What Happens When a 13-Year-Old Girl Takes on an Oil Company?
What she says is completely true. Thanks to the proliferation of smart phones and social media, America's youth is probably more informed about worldly issues than ever (just think of the virality of #BringBackOurGirls or the ALS #IceBucketChallenge). And while using a hashtag to promote a cause certainly helps, ultimately, actions speak much louder.
With warmer temperatures, rising sea levels and toxic air, we cannot afford to stand idle. Especially, the people who will be inheriting the earth.
As Juliana says, "I think that's so important that people my age really get [that] into their heads. As a younger person, I have everything to gain from taking action and everything to lose from not... It's important that youth are the ones who are standing up because of the fact that we do have so much to lose."

DON'T MISS: When it Comes to the Planet, Children (Not the Government) Really Are the Future

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This Teen Activist Is Suing the Government Over Climate Change

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Skip to content Kelsey Juliana is proof that you're never too young or too busy to save the planet. The 18-year-old environmentalist activist is a co-plaintiff for the Oregon TRUST (a nonprofit fighting climate change for future generations), who is suing the state of Oregon "to take a more aggressive stance against the carbon emissions warming the earth and destroying the environment."

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Youths bring lawsuits to stop climate change

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Youths bring lawsuits to stop climate change

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Find the best eco-friendly advice for parenting infants to teens, plus tips on pregnancy, activities, family dynamics, and environmental education.

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